How to Circumvent a Photo Ban Using Legos

When it comes to event photography, the challenge begins with getting into the event itself. Some concerts, such as this recent one by the Killers, ban photographers from entering the pit. That’s unfortunate because more often than not, the best shots are those taken up close. It’s not too difficult to get a decent shot of the stage from a few hundred feet away, but those in-your-face shots of sweaty performers are just something else entirely, yes? So unless you have a 400mm lens stashed in your pocket, you’re going to want to be close to the action.

The Lego Killers by Debbie Hickey

When the Killers performed in Dublin, GoldenPlec was not allowed to send in their photographer because of the “no photographers” rule. That didn’t deter Debbie Hickey from getting her ‘shot’. Using carefully-selected Lego pieces, she recreated the concert scenes against a paper backdrop and photographed those instead.

The reason for this was because the band have a strict no photographers rule. I first encountered this ridiculous rule at electric picnic last year, 10 minutes before the band were set to go on stage we were told – “No photographers allowed, you’ll have to leave the pit”. As they were one of my favourite bands I hoped to shoot, I was left a felling a little deflated. Their o2 gig in Dublin this weekend was no different. Photographers be gone!

No Photopass? No problem! If I can’t shoot them, I’ll build them, Never let it be said that GoldenPlec doesn’t get the shot.

It took Hickey just half an hour to compose these shots, but sifting through Lego pieces took more time. She wanted to make sure that the faces, hair and bodies depicted in the photos resembled the band.

The Lego Killers by Debbie Hickey

JOE’s Sean Nolan writes, “Hickey recreated the band’s show with the building blocks, and some creative licence, easily producing the best concert images we’ve seen in ages.

You can check out the rest of the photos from the set in GoldenPlec’s review of the concert or visit Hickey’s blog to see her take on the photo project.

I am a freelance photographer who is no stranger to smudged lenses, long hours in front of the computer, heavy camera bags (and the back aches that ensued) and missing lens caps. If you know what I'm talking about, you probably have as much love and passion for photography as I do.